American Soccer Now’s Blake Thomsen sizes up how the 2014 U.S. World Cup squad compares to its counterpart of 4 years in the past, full with stats and movies and evaluation.
BY
Blake Thomsen
Posted
June 04, 2014
1:01 PM
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NOW THAT THE 23-MAN squad has been finalized and Group G is inside shouting distance, we thought we’d take a position-by-position take a look at how this 12 months’s U.S. World Cup squad matches up with the 2010 squad. There’s so much to say, so we’ll hop to it.
GOALKEEPER—2010
Simply as it’s now, Tim Howard was the No. 1 goalkeeping possibility forward of backup Brad Guzan within the earlier cycle. Again then, Howard had a authentic declare as a high 5 keeper on the earth, which was by no means extra justifiable than within the Confederations Cup shutout of Spain.
Howard excelled within the Hexagonal, too, earlier than delivering a considerably disappointing World Cup efficiency. He’d by no means admit it, however the blow he took from England’s Emile Heskey within the Yanks’ opening match in South Africa might have prevented him from being at his greatest (go to the 4:00 mark beneath).
He nonetheless had his moments, although, particularly towards Algeria. His good positioning to cease Rafik Saifi’s stoppage-time header adopted by his epic throw to Landon Donovan to springboard the U.S.’s late winner was a fully world-class sequence.
GOALKEEPER—2014
After two below-standard seasons for Everton in 2011-12 and 2012-13, Howard responded magnificently this previous season for the Toffees. Howard really delivered his greatest numbers in save share, clear sheets, and targets towards common since his otherworldly 2008-09 marketing campaign.
Howard has additionally excelled for the U.S. over the previous 12 months. Half of his final 10 matches have been clear sheets, and even when the U.S. has given up a number of targets, Howard has not often been at fault. Efforts resembling this one towards Ukraine have been comparatively widespread these days, with Howard saving extremely on the primary shot, however being so uncovered by his protection that he can’t fairly stop a purpose.
ADVANTAGE: Even
A 12 months in the past, when Howard had simply come off his worst season for Everton, it might have been onerous to think about that his pre-2014 World Cup model may very well be performing on the similar degree that he was again in 2010. However Howard deserves substantial credit score for elevating his sport for membership and nation over the previous 12 months, and the U.S. can relaxation assured that it will likely be in glorious arms going into Brazil.
DEFENDERS—2010
The U.S. protection conceded 13 targets in 10 Hex video games in the course of the 2010 cycle, and that good-but-not-great type continued into the World Cup. It’s protected to say that the U.S. may solely declare one really above-average defender in South Africa—proper again Steve Cherundolo.
Carlos Bocanegra was simply beginning to present indicators of getting old (particularly on Asamoah Gyan’s knockout stage winner for Ghana) and Oguchi Onyewu by no means reached his earlier type following a severe knee harm. Although he had a aptitude for the dramatic, Jay DeMerit was removed from flawless as nicely, failing to supply enough resistance on Kevin Prince-Boateng’s opener for Ghana and in addition responsible of conceding an enormous probability within the opening minutes towards Algeria.
Except for Cherundolo, Jonathan Bornstein might have really had the most effective event of any U.S. defender, as he not often if ever received beat or was caught out of place. All advised, the U.S. conceded 5 targets in 4 video games towards comparatively uninspiring opposition. They’ll face a far better problem this time round.
DEFENDERS—2014
Regardless of a considerably continually rotating again line, the U.S. conceded simply eight targets within the 2013 Hex, and solely six within the last 9 video games. The state of affairs appears to be like more and more shaky heading into Brazil, nevertheless. The potential is obvious–Fabian Johnson and Geoff Cameron are in high type, Matt Besler has been glorious for over a 12 months, and Timmy Chandler performed very nicely within the Bundesliga. DaMarcus Beasley has been a typically succesful left again stand-in as nicely.
However at this level, that giant potential is something however realized. The protection appeared a bit in all places towards Turkey, in a sport which the U.S. was fortunate to flee with just one purpose allowed. Regardless that the person gamers could also be upgrades over the previous, the protection is but to click on as a unit.
With just one extra sport earlier than the World Cup to type issues out, U.S. supporters are understandably nervous in regards to the potential of this group to mesh in time for Brazil. And sadly, the 2014 World Cup group won’t be practically as forgiving because the 2010 was. Jurgen Klinsmann’s No. 1 precedence earlier than the Ghana sport will virtually definitely be getting his protection so as.
ADVANTAGE: Even
The potential vary of outcomes for the 2014 group is big right here, however we’ll name this one even to account for all prospects. In contrast to the 2014 group, you largely knew what you had been going to get with the 2010 defenders. They could not have been distinctive athletes, however they had been well-organized and had been not often caught too far out of place.
The 2014 unit, for now, appears to be like like a polar reverse of 2010. There are 4 gamers with the potential to type a top-class again 4, however they’ve hardly performed collectively, and it exhibits. Examine again in July to see how this one labored out: it is unattainable to evaluate now.
MIDFIELDERS—2010
The 2010 World Cup was very a lot a popping out occasion for Michael Bradley, as he was maybe the People’ greatest participant within the event. Extremely, one would anticipate him to play even higher this time round, however given simply how good he was in South Africa, it will likely be onerous to high his 2010 efficiency by too nice of a distance.
The 2010 midfield additionally boasted the squad’s different two greatest gamers, as Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey had been extraordinarily harmful as exterior midfielders. Dempsey, Donovan, and Bradley mixed to attain all 5 U.S. targets in South Africa, an unbelievable achievement (go to the 1:55 mark to see the 2010 targets).
In actual fact, solely the Netherlands, a finalist, received extra targets from the midfield than the U.S. did.
The U.S. midfield additionally featured an distinctive spark plug off the bench within the type of Benny Feilhaber, who appeared primed for giant issues following a event when he was a relentless risk and helped contribute to a 4-1 purpose differential when he was on the sphere.
The one weak hyperlink for the 2010 U.S. midfield was definitely Ricardo Clark. Although he introduced appreciable athleticism to the desk and did loads of good issues all through the event, his careless giveaway towards Ghana within the knockout stage set the tone for the U.S.’s heartbreaking World Cup exit.
MIDFIELDERS—2014
Bradley enters this World Cup in pretty much as good of type as any U.S. participant in a very long time, and he’ll be anticipated to hold the crew together with his nonstop operating and continually bettering attacking sport.
Elsewhere within the middle of midfield, Jermaine Jones is a extremely proficient query mark—in his personal manner, he could also be virtually as vital to the U.S. trigger as Bradley.
At his greatest, Jones is a Champions League caliber participant, able to facilitating assaults from deep and in addition bringing substantial athleticism and hard tackling. However he’s susceptible to a scarcity of defensive self-discipline that may go away the U.S. backline severely uncovered if and when he will get caught out of place. If Klinsmann is a powerful sufficient supervisor to depart Donovan off the World Cup squad, one would hope that he’s additionally sturdy sufficient to instill an improved sense of self-discipline in Jones’ sport.
The skin of the midfield, whereas definitely not a weak level, will probably be unable to return near matching the dynamic Donovan-Dempsey duo of 2010. One in every of Graham Zusi or Alejandro Bedoya figures to start out at proper mid, and it’s fairly potential that whichever of these two doesn’t begin on the best may begin on the left. Brad Davis is one other candidate on the left, as is Julian Inexperienced, however the teen appears to be like like a protracted shot to see vital enjoying time in Brazil.
ADVANTAGE: 2010
Although the 2010 midfield was considered because the pre-World Cup sturdy go well with on paper, few may have anticipated such prolific purpose scoring in addition to such all-around very good play. Nearly as good as Michael Bradley has grow to be, it’s nonetheless nearly unattainable to foresee the 2014 midfield outperforming the 2010 group, particularly with Clint Dempsey moved right into a ahead position. With that stated, it’s value noting that the 2014 midfield group continues to be fairly good, and there’s no motive to assume it received’t have a wonderful event.
FORWARDS—2010
After some serviceable Hex performances, Brian Ching and Connor Casey missed out on the World Cup in favor of a trio of in-form, unproven strikers: Edson Buddle, Robbie Findley, and Herculez Gomez. All failed to supply a lot in a disappointing show in South Africa. And although Jozy Altidore had loads of good runs and drew a number of yellow playing cards, he by no means appeared too threatening, aside from a deflected shot off the submit towards England within the opening match.
It’s additionally value noting that the lack of Charlie Davies in late 2009 to a life-threatening automobile accident severely hampered the U.S.’s ahead choices. Davies himself was in glorious type, and his presence on the sphere all the time appeared to deliver out the most effective in Altidore. Severely lacking the electrical tempo and funky ending of Davies, U.S. strikers failed to attain for the second straight World Cup, as a substitute counting on midfielders Donovan, Dempsey, and Bradley to attain all 5 targets in South Africa.
FORWARDS—2014
Altidore would be the essential man up high for the second straight World Cup, and although his numbers for Sunderland left a lot to be desired over the previous Premier League season, there’s no denying that his sport has improved immensely since South Africa. With the red-hot Clint Dempsey in a task that Klinsmann seems to categorise as a second ahead, the U.S. has a severe probability of battering the purpose scoring charges of its strikers from the final two World Cups.
Throw within the electrical Aron Johannsson and purpose poacher extraordinaire Chris Wondolowski off the bench, and the U.S. hanging state of affairs is in its greatest arms since Donovan and Brian McBride dazzled within the 2002 World Cup.
ADVANTAGE: 2014
The hanging division would be the U.S.’s greatest development space because the final World Cup. In 2010, the 4 forwards who noticed the sphere by no means appeared to strike a lot concern within the hearts of the U.S.’s opponents. That must be vastly totally different this time round. The possible beginning duo of Altidore and Dempsey poses a significant risk, and Wondolowski and particularly Johannsson may even be fairly harmful off the bench. Indisputably, issues are wanting up for the U.S.’s ahead unit.
SQUAD DEPTH—2010
In a devastating 24-hour interval in October 2009, final cycle’s crew was decimated by accidents to Onyewu and Davies. With its defensive rock out of shape and its high-upside striker lacking totally, the squad by no means once more reached the extent that allowed it to play eye to eye with Brazil and Spain over the earlier summer time.
These accidents had been magnified much more by the pre-existing lack of depth of the 2010 crew, which merely didn’t have the personnel to deal with two main losses. It’s not remotely his fault, however DeMerit couldn’t duplicate the once-dominant type of Onyewu within the center. And the revolving door of second strikers was less than Davies’ degree, both.
Elsewhere, apart from the superb Feilhaber, Bob Bradley was severely in need of game-changing choices off the bench. All in all, the crew was simply that little bit too skinny to make a severe run in South Africa.
SQUAD DEPTH—2014Across the sphere, the present crop of bench gamers is deeper than their 2010 counterparts. Beginning even on the goalkeeping place, Brad Guzan is way extra able to step in than he was again in 2010. The protection is a tad skinny, as Omar Gonzalez and particularly John Brooks will not be essentially the most reliable choices ought to Cameron or Besler go down. However Gonzalez at the least has loads of expertise and a few very sturdy performances to his title.The fullback state of affairs can also be in good arms, as Chandler, Johnson, and Beasley are all well-equipped to start out. DeAndre Yedlin doubtless received’t go close to the sphere as a starter, however his tempo may make a authentic influence off the bench in the best circumstances.
Within the middle of the midfield, Kyle Beckerman appears able to step in ought to Jones or Bradley should miss out via harm or suspension. Beckerman has questionable athleticism at greatest, however his very good positioning and studying of the sport would serve him nicely had been he referred to as upon.
And if the U.S. wants a late purpose, it’s in good arms with Johannsson and Wondolowski. And although Inexperienced appeared overmatched bodily in his 30-minute cameo towards Mexico, he used his explosiveness to attract what actually ought to have been a penalty.
ADVANTAGE: 2014
The 2010 squad had loads of expertise on the high, nevertheless it was a comparatively skinny group from gamers 10-23 or so. The present squad doesn’t have the identical drawback. Although missing World Cup expertise, it boasts maybe essentially the most spectacular depth in U.S. World Cup historical past, or at the least since 2002. Particularly given the grueling enjoying and touring situations, the U.S.’s depth may very well be one in all its greatest belongings in Brazil.
FINAL ASSESSMENT
All in all, it’s troublesome to disclaim the prevalence of the 2014 squad as in comparison with the 2010 crew. The margins could be far nearer had Davies and Onyewu not been injured within the lead-up to the World Cup, however the lack of these two stars severely broken the crew that performed in South Africa.
The improved high quality of the 2014 crew, nevertheless, on no account ensures a greater World Cup efficiency. In 2010, the Yanks benefitted from an outrageously straightforward group. Such a luxurious won’t be afforded this time round, and the 2014 crew might want to present each little bit of its high quality if it needs to play greater than three video games in Brazil.
Time to listen to your evaluation. Is the 2014 squad actually that significantly better than the 2010 version? Which side of the present crew are you most involved about heading into Brazil? Tell us within the feedback part beneath.
Blake Thomsen is a frequent ASN contributor. Comply with him on Twitter.
